I hosted the 6th EIT Food Venture Summit in Lisbon, which brings together 400 leading startups, investors, and corporations from the European agrifood scene to connect and discuss the state of the ecosystem.
As the MC, I get behind the scenes access to all the speakers and a front row seat to their conversations on stage and in the wings.
Here are 3 things I learned at this year’s Summit:
A decade ago there were almost no agrifood VCs
Sometimes it feels like the agri foodtech space is growing reallyyyyyy slowly, but in actuality it’s exploded over the last decade.
11 years ago, entrepreneurs had next to no dedicated agrifoodtech investors to raise from. Think about that for a second.
9/10 Founders show signs of mental health strain
In my coaching practice, every Founder I work with is experiencing stress. Acknowledging this and recognizing the enormous amount of financial strain, responsibility, and expectations they face is something we don’t talk about enough and key for ensuring future success and innovation.
Teams are assets worth investing in
What if we started viewing Founders as assets that need consistent care and reinvestment? I loved this conversation about how investors can better support Founders and provide them with access to coaches, therapists, and other experts.
Part of the Venture Summit program was live streamed. You can watch it below:
Looking for a speaker for your next event?
If you’re planning to host an agrifood conference, workshop, or event in the next 6 months, let’s talk. I’d love to support as your MC or deliver a keynote.
You can check out my portfolio, FAQ, and booking information here.